US 6,687,741 B1 · Sending a file as a link and/or as an attachment

Abstract

A desktop application program provides a single entry point for indicating that a file is to be sent to a recipient. In response to an indication that the file is to be sent, a determination is automatically made as to whether the file should be sent as a link, as an attachment, or as both a link and an attachment. If the file has not been saved to a disk location or if the file has not been saved to a shared disk location, the file is sent as an attachment to an e-mail note. If the file has been saved to a shared disk location, the file is sent to the recipient as a link in an e-mail note. In order to determine if the file saved to the shared disk location should also be sent as an attachment, a registry is checked for a send preference regarding shared files. If a send preference indicates that shared files are to be sent as attachments, the file is sent as both a link and an attachment. If a send preference indicates that shared files are not to be sent as attachment, the file is sent only as a link. If the sender has not previously indicated a send preference, the sender may be prompted to input a signal indicating whether the file is to be sent as an attachment. A send preference may be created in response to the signal, if the sender so desires.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method for sending a file opened in a desktop application program from a sender to a recipient comprising:

within the desktop application program, receiving an indication that the file is to be sent from the sender to the recipient;
in response to the indication that the file is to be sent, determining whether the file has been saved to a shared disk location;
in response to a determination that the file has been saved to the shared disk location, checking a registry in order to determine that the sender has previously indicated a send preference for sending shared files;
and
in response to a determination that the send preference indicates that shared files are to be sent as attachments:
launching an e-mail application program,
instructing the e-mail application program to create an e-mail note,
attaching a copy of the file to the e-mail note,
inserting a link to the shared disk location in a body of the e-mail note, and
instructing the e-mail application program to send the e-mail note to the recipient.

7 more elements

A method for sending a file created in a desktop application program from a sender to a recipient comprising:

within the desktop application program, receiving an indication that the file is to be sent from the sender to the recipient;
in response to the indication that the file is to be sent, determining whether the file has been saved to a disk location;
if the file has been saved to the disk location, determining whether the disk location is a shared disk location;
in response to a determination that the file has not been saved to the disk location or a determination that the disk location is not a shared disk location:
launching an e-mail application program,
instructing the e-mail application program to create an e-mail note,
attaching a copy of the file to the e-mail note, and
instructing the e-mail application program to send the e-mail note to the recipient;
in response to a determination that the disk location is a shared disk location, checking a registry in order to determine if the sender has previously indicated a send preference for sending shared files;
in response to a determination that the sender has not previously indicated the send preference, prompting the sender to input a signal indicating whether the copy of the file is to be attached;
and
in response to a determination that the signal indicates that the copy of the file is to be attached:
launching the e-mail application program,
instructing the e-mail application program to create the e-mail note,
attaching the copy of file to the e-mail note,
inserting a link to the shared disk location in a body of the e-mail note, and
instructing the e-mail application program to send the e-mail note to the recipient.

14 more elements

A computer system for sending a file opened in a desktop application program from a sender to a recipient comprising:

a memory for storing the desktop application, the file, and an e-mail application program;
an input device for generating an indication that the file is to be sent from the sender to the recipient;
and
a processing unit in communication with the input device and the memory for executing the desktop application program, the e-mail application program, and computer-executable instructions for:
receiving from the desktop application program the indication that the file is to be sent;
in response to the indication that the file is to be sent, determining whether the file has been saved to a shared disk location;
in response to a determination that the file has been saved to the shared disk location, checking a registry in order to determine that the sender has previously indicated a send preference for sending shared files;
and
in response to a determination that the send preference indicates that shared files are to be sent as attachments:
launching an e-mail application program,
instructing the e-mail application program to create an e-mail note,
attaching a copy of the file to the e-mail note,
inserting a link to the shared disk location in a body of the e-mail note, and
instructing the e-mail application program to send the e-mail note to the recipient.

11 more elements

A computer system for sending a file opened in a desktop application program from a sender to a recipient comprising:

a memory for storing the desktop application, the file, and an e-mail application program;
an input device for generating an indication that the file is to be sent from the sender to the recipient;
and
a processing unit in communication with the input device and the memory for executing the desktop application program, the e-mail application program, and computer-executable instructions for:
receiving from the desktop application program the indication that the file is to be sent;
in response to the indication that the file is to be sent, determining whether the file has been saved to a shared disk location;
in response to a determination that the file has been saved to the shared disk location, prompting the sender to input a signal indicating whether the copy of the file is to be attached;
and
in response to a determination that the signal indicates that the copy of the file is to be attached:
launching the e-mail application program,
instructing the e-mail application program to create the e-mail note,
attaching the copy of file to the e-mail note,
inserting a link to the shared disk location in a body of the e-mail note, and
instructing the e-mail application program to send the e-mail note to the recipient.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sending a file as a link and/or as an attachment

Life of this patent

Sending a file as a link and/or as an attachment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25